Ian Johnson – the accidental tourist

Running back Ian Johnson might be ready to pen the sequel to the Anne Tyler classic, “The Accidental Tourist.” The novel centers around a travel writer who writes for business travelers who don’t like to travel. Johnson, who was signed last week to the practice squad, would rather be spending time with his wife, Chrissy, instead of living out of suitcases.

Johnson famously proposed on national television after his Boise State Broncos upset Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. After graduation, he’s spent the last two seasons on four different NFL practice squads – Minnesota, Arizona, Detroit and now San Francisco.

Ian Johnson with his future wife

“You’re living month-to-month, day-to-day. You don’t have a house, I’m finally trying to buy a house,” Johnson said Wednesday. “The last three years I’ve pretty much lived out of four suit cases, I carry them everywhere I go. I’ve become an expert traveler, I know exactly what I can get away with on the airlines. It’s a different mentality.”

Often practice squad players are signed for only days and then tossed aside when a better player comes along. Johnson, for example, ousted preseason sensation Xavier Omon from the eight-member squad. For the married, this poses problems.

“When I pick up and leave, that means my wife has to go back to Boise until I’m comfortable enough to be where I’m at,” Johnson said. Typically that means staying in a place for about two weeks before Ian sends for Chrissy.

Bay Area rental prices are particularly tough on practice squaders, who make $5,700 a week. That’s terrific pay, particularly for someone just out of college, however given the tenuous nature of the employment it’s not all that much, especially when considering that a decent apartment in Silicon Valley can come close to $2,000 a month.

The 49ers pay for the first week at the Marriott and then players must find their own accommodations. Johnson may find an extended stay hotel at first before summoning his wife, and if the NFL doesn’t work out, maybe he can write the next book for the extended-stay traveler.